Public participation in transportation projects can span a spectrum ranging from being informed on one end to integral involvement in final decision making on the other. The range between increases the amount of public impact, including consultation, involvement, and collaboration. During a session at the 2025 CTS Transportation Research Conference, four panelists offered strategies for successfully using the principles of public participation along this spectrum for engaging the freight community as stakeholders in transportation projects.
Dan Pfeiffer, business development director and senior project advisor for Zan Associates, began by sharing an overview of the “spectrum of public participation” as defined by the International Association of Public Practitioners (IAP2). One side is no better or worse than the other, but should realistically match the needs of both the project and community, he said.
“The spectrum is really based on your promise to the public,” he said. “If you [make a] promise to the public, and decision makers haven’t agreed that’s the promise or if they go back on that promise, that is the fastest way to erode trust with any of your stakeholders or the public.”
Considering freight as a project stakeholder early in the planning process can help avoid costly surprises later, said Mark Wegner, president of Twin Cities & Western Railroad Company. "Don't go too far down the planning route without talking to freight."
For instance, railroad companies can help identify impacts and issues that should be resolved well before construction, he said. They can also explain regulations that govern the rail industry, which often aren’t understood by those outside of it. Railroads must meet safety requirements and accept or carry all types of loads. “We also need to make a profit to keep sustainable, and we are extremely risk-averse,” Wegner added. For example, a railroad company might oppose construction of a new road crossing over tracks because it presents a potential safety risk that wouldn’t otherwise be there.
Being willing to learn more and understand freight challenges goes a long way in resolving issues and building relationships, said consultant John Tompkins. Tompkins knows both the public and private sides well, having recently started his own consulting firm and previously having worked for the Minnesota Department of Transportation on its first State Freight Plan.
It pays to find the right freight contacts first. For railroads, Wegner recommended starting with the government relations contact, who is well-situated to help navigate access to the organization's experts. Tompkins suggested talking to local firms in and around the project area to identify small trucking businesses that could be impacted.
For freight, details matter—as does the overall goal of the infrastructure project… And all of that requires conscientious communication.
“You just have to be willing to be transparent and understand [freight’s] concerns,” Tompkins said. “Don’t be afraid of the dialogue.”
This research conference session was held in alignment with CTS’s 2025 thematic focus “Unpacking Freight: From Producers to Front Doors.”
—Darlene Gorrill, contributing writer
